Ratan Tata receives Highest Australian civil honour

Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, was conferred with Australia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Australia, for his efforts in strengthening the India-Australia bilateral relations.

Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell, shared the images of the ceremony on Twitter and said Ratan Tata has made a significant impact on the island nation.

“Ratan Tata is a titan of biz, industry and philanthropy not just in India, but his contributions have also made a significant impact in Australia. Delighted to confer Order of Australia (AO) honour to Ratan Tata in recognition of his longstanding commitment to the IndiaAustralia relationship,” the diplomat said in a tweet.

But why was Ratan Tata conferred with Australia’s highest civilian honour?

The Australian envoy said that Tata’s contributions have led to a lasting impact on the island nation. He wrote, “Ratan Tata is a titan of biz, industry and philanthropy not just in India, but his contributions have also made a significant impact in Australia. Delighted to confer Order of Australia (AO) honour to Ratan Tata in recognition of his long- standing commitment to the Australian and Indian relationship”.

The 85-year-old played a critical role in the 2022 India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, while Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reportedly employs the biggest Australian workforce of any Indian firm with about 17,000 employees.

The honour comes a month after the business magnate was appointed as an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to fostering India-Australia ties, specifically in trade, investment, and philanthropy.

In India, Ratan Tata is a 2008 recipient of the country’s second-highest civilian award – the Padma Vibhushan.